Holy Smokes My E-Unit Just Went Up In Smoke!

Me thinkz you thunk right. Sounds like the coil smoked.

 Time for a new unit or ...gulp...a board.

In the mean time, turn the e units switch to off. Then turning the loco in somersaults forward or backwards correctly, or rolling it over left or right , direction depending on e unit installed, that action can manually cause the pawl to engage the drum and move it to the forward position so you can run it forward only till parts arrive.

Stinky, too isnt it?

I have an MPC era 4935 GG1, and running it with the E unit "on"   produces some erratic voltage readings......but running with the E unit in the off position produces lower voltage at the same speed and less voltage variation. Otherwise the chooch runs just fine.  Wonder if my E unit is fixing to go BOOM !?  

I have an MPC era 4935 GG1, and running it with the E unit "on"   produces some erratic voltage readings......but running with the E unit in the off position produces lower voltage at the same speed and less voltage variation. Otherwise the chooch runs just fine.  Wonder if my E unit is fixing to go BOOM !?

It's not a common problem.

Adriatic posted:

Me thinkz you thunk right. Sounds like the coil smoked.

 Time for a new unit or ...gulp...a board.

In the mean time, turn the e units switch to off. Then turning the loco in somersaults forward or backwards correctly, or rolling it over left or right , direction depending on e unit installed, that action can manually cause the pawl to engage the drum and move it to the forward position so you can run it forward only till parts arrive.

Stinky, too isnt it?

Well at least I've got my hunch confirmed. I got the engine manually cycled to run in forward for now, it seems to run fine. I've got my eye on an original e-unit on the Bay with a few days left in the auction. Yep it certainly was a foul smell when it burned up!

Please don't run your engine until you replace the E unit as the E unit may catch fire because for a winding to put off smoke means "it is damaged" and can't do it's job correctly.

You can find re-built E units on www.choochooauctions.com under Lionel, you will have to look a bit. I bought one for my 224E and it runs great.

If you can do it turn off the E unit, or keep it from cycling F-N-R-N as it won't buzz constantly when turned off.

Lee Fritz

phillyreading posted:

Please don't run your engine until you replace the E unit as the E unit may catch fire because for a winding to put off smoke means "it is damaged" and can't do it's job correctly.

You can find re-built E units on www.choochooauctions.com under Lionel, you will have to look a bit. I bought one for my 224E and it runs great.

If you can do it turn off the E unit, or keep it from cycling F-N-R-N as it won't buzz constantly when turned off.

Lee Fritz

Thank for the warning Lee. I have plenty of motive power so I'll just shelve the 736 until I repair it.

Olsen's Toy Trains has the 100-25 E-Units used in the 736 in stock, with either cloth covered wires or plastic insulation, for $45+S&H.

Must have been made by Samsung.

-Greg

There are several new, old stock MPC 100-25 e-units on EBay, with an opening bid of $19.99

C W Burfle posted:

There are several new, old stock MPC 100-25 e-units on EBay, with an opening bid of $19.99

Thanks C W, I'll check those out. Hopefully I can get one for under $30.

You know that this is a Command Control opportunity.

D500 posted:

You know that this is a Command Control opportunity.

It is a good opportunity, unfortunately I have DCS only, no TMCC. As cool as it would be it'd cost many times more for the base and electronics than a new e-unit.

A competent repair person experienced in postwar locos could replace the coil, for a lot less than a "new" E unit.  Ask at your local train store if anyone in your area can do such a repair. 

Train Doctor posted:

A competent repair person experienced in postwar locos could replace the coil, for a lot less than a "new" E unit.  Ask at your local train store if anyone in your area can do such a repair. 

Unfortunately there is nobody in my area that repairs postwar anymore as far as I know. I was browsing the Bay and found a 100-25 e-unit for $13 total that has a working coil and just needs a drum and the fingers. I have experience in replacing drums and have spares on hand so I may try my luck going that route.